The United States and Egypt have inaugurated three new wastewater treatment systems in the Abou Teeg District of Assiut. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Assiut Potable Water and Sanitation Company, and the Egyptian Holding Company for Water and Wastewater Treatment. The new facilities aim to provide reliable sanitation services to 41,000 residents.
Sherry F. Carlin, Mission Director at USAID in Egypt, highlighted the impact of this cooperation since 2009: “Since 2009, USAID’s cooperation with Assiut has helped over 315,000 residents have access to potable water and sanitation,” she said. “The facilities we are inaugurating today will improve the health and living conditions, as well as the livelihoods, of thousands of families in Assiut.”
Although all areas in Assiut have access to potable water services, only 20 percent of the governorate is covered by sanitation services. Since 2011, USAID has been funding water and wastewater projects in Assiut, benefiting 315,000 people. Among these are the newly inaugurated low-cost slow-sand filter wastewater systems in Abou Teeg district which provide many residents with sanitation services for the first time. The construction of these systems also generated thousands of hours of labor for local workers.
USAID's investment in Egypt exceeds $3.5 billion since 1979, focusing on constructing or upgrading water and wastewater facilities that benefit more than 25 million Egyptians. These efforts include partnerships with Egyptian counterparts to use appropriate technologies and local contractors for better service delivery.
This project is part of a broader technical assistance package from the American people that aims to create jobs, improve agricultural productivity and children's literacy rates, reduce infant and maternal mortality rates, and equip future generations with necessary tools for success. Overall, nearly $30 billion has been invested by Americans through the U.S. Embassy in Egypt since 1978.